Chapter 915: Plug Her Mouth

Zhou Ruohan was somewhat surprised: "You also plan to go to the local area? Aren't you doing fine staying in the enterprise? Going to the local area isn't as comfortable as staying in Jingcheng."

Moreover, working at the grassroots isn't as easy as you imagine. Those grassroots people may have low education levels and don't grasp theory deeply, but they have rich work experience and a deep mass base locally. People like us who are parachuted in find it hard to adapt to the local political ecology.

Sometimes in grassroots work, doing more or being conscientious doesn't guarantee others' approval. To put it bluntly, many comrades locally have a saying: 'Township work starts with eating and drinking.'

If you blindly follow the crowd, it will wear down your ambitions and make you mediocre; but if you stand out, thinking you're different, being innovative, and insist on implementing the policies from above, you'll become a target of criticism.

It's not that simple. My advice is for you to stay another two years. Once you reach the bureau-level rank, parachuted cadres will be relatively more numerous, and the work environment won't be so complicated. Those people below engage in struggles with all kinds of endless tactics, both those who can and cannot appear on the surface will bring them to you.

Besides that, just saying: when I was at the Civil Affairs Department and went down to investigate poverty relief and aid items, some villages dared not speak the truth, but you couldn't reveal your identity; I felt extremely stifled. These are things you couldn't tolerate, so my advice is for you to stay in your current unit.

But Zhou Kai's attitude was very firm: 'Grandfather said, if you want to become accomplished, you must go to the grassroots. Staying forever in a greenhouse, you won't experience those wind and rain, nor will you grow.'

Faced with Zhou Kai suddenly bringing up this issue, Zhou Ruohan didn't say anything more. Everyone has their own choice; Zhou Kai used to live quite comfortably, and now it's probably because of Su Yang's appearance.

The little witch Liu Zixuan said beside them: 'You all want to work within the system—what's good about that? Is being an official so easy? If you do poorly, you'll be scolded by the common people, by your leaders, and stabbed in the back by colleagues;'

If you do well, others will reap the fruits; if not, you might end up taking the blame for them. All that is still tolerable; the key is many people want both office and money, can't control their hands, and end up in trouble. By then, if you say you'll go in and go in, you'll also implicate your whole family being laughed at by others.

Having said that, she suddenly felt something was off and added: 'Oh oh oh, right, I wasn't talking about you, Zhou Kai. I know you want to go to the grassroots to do something for the common people; it's not easy.'

As this topic opened up, the past of Su Yang, Zhou Ruohan, and Fang Jingwen was completely cast aside. Until the gathering ended, no one brought it up again. Of course, the climax of this gathering was Jia Guolong's confession, which ended in a mess; I estimate he'll have a miserable year.

After returning home, Zhou Ruohan grabbed Su Yang's ear and said: 'Honestly, do you and Fang Jingwen really have something going on? Otherwise I always feel her gaze at you is off.'

Also, about the bracelets, you need to explain clearly—why does she have so many bracelets? You said they're family heirlooms; could your family be in the bracelet wholesale business?

When I visited last time, your uncle and aunt didn't say that, and they didn't even mention the bracelets. I now deeply suspect this whole thing is you deceiving me from start to finish.

Su Yang said: 'Heaven and earth conscience, how could I possibly deceive you with ancestral stuff? Don't you think it's possible she deliberately did this to disgust you, specifically to mess with your mindset? You too have higher education and have been tempered at work; don't fall easily for her scheming.'

However, she has indeed helped me a lot at work, and you're right about that—not just in the past, I think I'll also need her help in the future. Because many things, given my rank, directly approaching Minister Fang is far too unequal, and we can't repay such a huge favor.

But Fang Jingwen is relatively easier; there are rumors Minister Fang wants to advance further, and those in the know will surely give Fang Jingwen face, so I can also wield the tiger's might borrowing the fox's aura down there.

No matter how he spouted nonsense, Zhou Ruohan clung to this issue: 'Honestly tell me now, where did that bracelet come from? I just want to know the reason; I definitely won't lay a hand on you.'

Su Yang relaxed a lot upon hearing this and said: 'This mainly came from a friend who gave it to me earlier. And do you still remember Ning Shu Yue? She's now Sun Chengjun's girlfriend, serving as a section chief in the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee.'

She had also helped me before; once I wanted to thank her by saying I'd give a gift, but I actually had nothing, only the bracelet on me, so I casually gave her one. The rest you already know.

As for the bracelet itself, it's not from our family; it's from the home of Liu Fusheng, chief of the Finance Bureau. Their family has been making this for generations, so they still have a lot left.

Su Yang was explaining earnestly when he suddenly felt a piercing pain in his waist. Zhou Ruohan's eyes welled with tears as she pinched him hard: 'I let you deceive me, I let you have ill intentions, I let you flirt everywhere!'

As he said that, Zhou Ruohan exerted more force, and she looked like she was about to cry, not knowing whether it was from grievance or anger at being deceived.

Su Yang said: 'You just said you weren't angry; this is typical of going back on your word, typical of luring me!'

But no matter what he said, the pain on his body only grew worse. Finally having no other recourse, he resorted to his ultimate move.

First he covered Zhou Ruohan's mouth, then reached out and directly pulled her onto the bed, pressing her down hard in her gaze that was both frightened and shy, yet slightly anticipating.

Seeing her clothes being undone bit by bit, Zhou Ruohan instantly reacted: 'What are you doing? Not now!'

Su Yang said: 'What can't be done? Those they say are easy to drop are just due to poor constitution, just kids with soft lives. My lineage is definitely the especially hard‑lived kind, and besides, your physique is so good.'

Zhou Ruohan wanted to say more, but could only make whimpering sounds; she had no strength to struggle.

After over twenty minutes, Su Yang finally got up, leaning against the headboard to smoke.

Zhou Ruohan pinched Su Yang again: 'What's going on? You're so weak now, or are you doing something bad behind my back?'

Su Yang said: 'Do you have any common sense? After this long, I'm almost going crazy from holding it in; not immediately surrendering is already not bad, and you still want a bicycle?'

Hey, right, you just said it wasn't allowed—how come your face is now full of longing?